Blogs from Xinjiang, China, Asia - page 6

KASHGAR SUNDAY 6.7.14 Weather: fine, hot. Went with others to the famed Sunday animal market, really a livestock market, for the sale of sheep, goats and cattle. A dusty, busy market,bustling with animals, motorcycle utilities carting a few sheep or goats and trucks carting bulls. Have seen goats and sheep in paddocks but no cattle, so don't know from how far they have travelled. The land here doesn't grow grass, so they must either be hand fed or come from a distance. The sheep are quite tall and large and are of a different variety to any I have seen before. They have large protruding bums, like baboons, but are wool covered. Must be where they store fat for the hard days or weather. Pity my camera battery was flat!! The sheep / goats are trussed ... read more

SECRET DESERT CAMP. SUNDAY 29.6.14 Distance: 150 Kms SubT. 4,140 Kms Bal 8274 Kms Road Condition: highway good other than shoulder debris Weather: hot blue sky Time in Saddle: 7 hrs Av Speed: av. 22.5 kph. Elevation: ? m : Decent ? Calories burned : 5100 Today was hot, long, boring scenery and I couldn't wait for it to end. Another puncture! six now I think! Now I am some what expert at the change of tubes. Have 1 original left!!! Stopped at every service station for cold drinks. None to be had, all were room temperature. Never consumed so much Pepsi, however the sugar content does provide a short term energy boost. Luckily I have a dental appointment pre arranged at tour end. Finally found the obscure camping site, well hidden and avoided the police ... read more

TURPAN : WEDNESDAY 25.6.14. REST DAY. ( apologies if this first comment previously posted. Cannot recall!!) Western China has its own local time zone as well as Beijing time. Local time is 2 hours behind Beijing time. More confusing than Queensland Summer/ daylight saving time. TDA is working on Beijing time. Apparently the provided breakfast was beyond description in a negative way, so passed, and went to John's Place for a slow delivered meal of pancake and yogurt, mushroom omelette, banana smoothie. It sounds better than it was! Afterwards a few of us hired a van and went to the local winery, Chateau Tuoling, not far out of town. Very impressive operation, similar to the larger Barossa Valley wineries, in size and amenity. After viewing the cellar and displays we sampled their white and red wines. ... read more

Hey everybody! This is my first blog entry, so it is not perfect, photos will follow soon! I am right now still in Kashgar at the extreme west of China, and it seriously doesnt really feel like the good old China back in Nanjing. This is Central Asia in all but name. Turkish population, desert landscape, islamic prayer calls all over the day and dont even try to get your get your Gong Bao Chicken around here! But i am staying at this lovely Hostel just across the street from the main mosque, which offers an amazing rooftop perfectly fit for engaging in late night disussions about the capitalism, happiness and virtue...if you know me well, you will understand I find it hard to leave! The Road to Och in Kirgyztan will be a little bumpy, ... read more

Hami Hami is an agricultural area famous for mellons. They are everywhere this time of year. We got stopped by the police again so they could check our passports and take pictures of our bikes. I followed my GPS down a non street, through an underpass populated by scooters, along some skinny streets, and finally got to the hotel. I had the biggest moped in town. I barely fit between the barriers. We ate at a local hole in the wall, had a great meal, met a bunch of locals, and got free beer from the restaurant owner. Everyone was happy.... read more